Senecio plant named ‘AMICU1909’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Senecio  plant named ‘AMICU1909’ which is characterized by a very compact growth habit, a glaucous greyed-green stem, glaucous blue-green to greyed-green foliage, foliage which falcate and occasionally strongly falcate, semi-terete foliage with a prominent longitudinal channel running the length of the leaf, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Senecio hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Senecio disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMICU1909’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMICU1909’ is a seedling selection resulting from the controlled pollination of an unnamed Senecio kleiniiformis plant (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamed Curio ficoides plant (not patented), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor in the spring of 2018 at a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In the autumn of 2018, one seedling resulting from the crossing was observed to exhibit unique growth and foliage characteristics and was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘AMICU1909’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘AMICU1909’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in the winter of 2018 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through four subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMICU1909’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘AMICU1909’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘AMICU1909’ as a new and distinct Senecio cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMICU1909’ exhibits a very compact growth habit with a         single near-vertical stem bearing foliage that is held outward;         and     -   2. ‘AMICU1909’ exhibits a glaucous yellow-green stem, generally         appearing as a reyed-green coloration due to the thick layer of         greyed-green epicuticular wax; and     -   3. ‘AMICU1909’ exhibits green, glaucous foliage which generally         appears to be in between blue-green and greyed-green due to the         thick layer of epicuticular wax which is colored in between         blue-green and greyed-green; and     -   4. ‘AMICU1909’ exhibits narrowly oblanceolate and moderately to         strongly falcate foliage; and     -   5. ‘AMICU1909’ exhibits semi-terete foliage with a prominent         longitudinal channel running the length of the leaf.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, five exemplary plants of ‘AMICU1909’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. The plants are approximately 12 months old, shown planted in an 11 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of ‘AMICU1909.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in January of 2020 describe averages from a sample set of five specimens of 12 months old ‘AMICU1909’ plants grown in 11 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Senecio plants which consisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, and chemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug and Botrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMICU1909’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMICU1909’ and comparisons with the parent plants and closest known comparator are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright succulent perennial with foliage borne             on a single unbranched stem.         -   Plant profile.—Broad ovate.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—9.2 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 11.3 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Slow growing to moderately fast growing.         -   Plant vigor.—Low vigor to moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 21 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop time —             Approximately 25 weeks to produce a marketable plant in a 7             cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Plants have             not been observed to be any more or less susceptible or             resistant to pathogens and pests common to Senecio spp.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once             established; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves borne on a single unbranched stem;             no lateral branching.         -   Quantity of main stems.—1.         -   Main stem dimensions.—4.0 cm long and 0.5 cm in diameter.         -   Internode length.—0.4 cm.         -   Aspect.—Rounded.         -   Attitude.—Nearly vertical.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture and luster.—Glabrous, glaucous, matte.         -   Fragrance.—When crushed, stem exhibits a somewhat spicy             fragrance typical of the species.         -   Color, when developing.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146D;             stem covered with a waxy layer colored greyed-green, RHS             188D.         -   Color of mature stem.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 1468;             stem covered with a thick waxy layer colored greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 188D.         -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146B; stem             covered with a thick waxy layer colored greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 188D. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 33 leaves per stem.         -   Shape.—Narrow oblanceolate; distally falcate and occasional             strongly falcate.         -   Dimensions.—7.1 cm long, 0.6 cm wide, and 0.8 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Semi-terete, with an obvious longitudinal channel.         -   Attitude.—At an average angle of 55 degrees to the stem.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire, occasionally with one spine of an average             length of 0.1 cm; not undulated.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; strongly glaucous.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; strongly glaucous.         -   Fragrance.—When crushed, foliage exhibits a somewhat spicy             fragrance typical of the species.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in             between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A; the             epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is colored in             between blue-green and greyed-green, RHS 1228 and 188A.             Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to in between             green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A; the             epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is colored in             between blue-green and greyed-green, RHS 1228 and 188A.             Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to in             between RHS NN137A and 139A; the epicuticular wax covering             the leaf surface is colored in between blue-green and             greyed-green, RHS 122B and 188A. Mature foliage, abaxial             surface — Green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 137A and 137B;             the epicuticular wax covering the leaf surface is colored in             between blue-green and greyed-green, RHS 122B and 188A.         -   Venation.—No venation is visible on the adaxial surface;             parallel venation of the abaxial surface is colored             yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147A.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date. -   Comparisons with the parent plant and closest known comparator:     Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMICU1909’ differ from the seed parent,     an unnamed and unpatented Senecio kleiniiformis plant, in the     following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘AMICU1909’ The seed parent. Foliage aspect Narrowly oblanceolate Proximally terete, and shape. and semi-terete, with a progressing to semi-terete prominent longitudinal and ultimately opening up, channel. distally, to a deltoid shape. Foliage strength. Stronger than the parent. Weaker than ‘AMICU1909’. Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMICU1909’ differ from the pollen parent, unnamed and unpatented Curio ficoides plant, in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘AMICU1909’ The pollen parent Stem diameter. Thinner than the parent. Thicker than ‘AMICU1909’. Foliage width. Narrower than the parent. Broader than ‘AMICU1909’. Foliage aspect. Semi-terete with a Terete; longitudinal channel prominent longitudinal is less prominent. channel. Foliage shape. Narrowly oblanceolate; Oblanceolate; not falcate. distally falcate and occasional strongly falcate. General In between blue-green and In between greyed-green coloration greyed-green, yet generally and blue-green, generally of the foliage. presenting closer to green presenting as closer to a by comparison to the mixture of light gray and pollen parent. blue-green by comparison to ‘AMICU1909’.

-   Comparisons with the closest known comparator: Plants of the new     cultivar ‘AMICU1909’ differ from the closest known commercial     comparator, the common form of the species Senecio ficoides ‘Mount     Everest’ (U.S. Pat. No. 22,188), in the following characteristics     described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘AMICU1909’ ‘Mount Everest’ Growth habit. More compact than ‘Mount Less compact than Everest’. ‘AMICU1909’. Plant height. Shorter than ‘Mount Taller than ‘AMICU1909’. Everest’. Foliage aspect. Semi-terete with a Terete; longitudinal channel prominent longitudinal is less prominent. channel. Foliage shape. Narrowly oblanceolate; Oblanceolate; not falcate. distally falcate and occasional strongly falcate. Foliage Thicker than ‘Mount Thinner than ‘AMICU1909’. thickness. Everest’. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Senecio plant named ‘AMICU1909’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 